Improvement in hay-cuttee



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Letters Patent No. 78,369, dated May 26, "1868. Y

IMPROVBBEIENT IN AY-GUTTER.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONGERN:

Be it known that I, FRIEDERICK GERFEN, of West Hempeld township, in the county of'Laneaster, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement n Hay-Cutters and I do hereby declare that the following is a clear, full, and exact description thereof', reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, in which- Figure 1 is a front view, and

Figure 2 is a side elevation of my improvement in hay-cutters.

A represents a shaft, to one end of which is attached an ordinary handle, B. At the point marked E, on said shaft A, is attached a supplemental handle, i', which, when taken hold of'by the operator, causes the slaft A and handle B to serve as a. guard, and protect the hand from being rubbed either by the hay or mow.

More force can also thus be applied to the 'cutter, as both hands can be used, and the operator can take hold of both handles. l I

And at the lower end is the steel 1Knife or egg-shaped blade, C, directly above which is the second handle, D, screwed into and projecting from the shaft.

My improved hay-cutter is intended to be used in cutting hay from the mow, and is calculated to obviate and remedy some serious objections to the Hay-cutters now in use.

Those generally used `are so constructed as to be wholly inoperath'e in a confined space, as they requireto he swung, and consequently cannot be effectively used unless the operator has room in which to swing the implement, and where the hay is mowed away in lofts of barns, there is considerable diiculty experienced in getting out suflicient to make room tense the ordinary cutters. f-

It will be easily seen and understood that, owing to the peculiar shape of thevknif of my cutter, no swing Y ing is required, as it is only necessary to introduce the point of the blade and apply the proper pressure to the handle, to cut to any required shape or quantity. I V

The handle D is screwed into the shaft, in such a manner that it 'may bel removed, and, when fixed, serves as a foothold to allow of greater pressure'being brought to bear upon the blade,'if required, but may be used or not, at thc loption of the operator.

My improved hay-cutter'f is cheap, and simple in construction, and possesses great durability, the blade being composed of iron and steel, and the remaining parts Wholly of-iron. v

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isv

The hay-cutter, constructed and arranged substantially jas and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 11th day of May, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight. i

FRIEDERICK GERFEN. [L 5.]

Witnesses:

HENRY Genres, SAMUEL B. IIINKLE.. 

